Richard Montgomery student struck in crosswalk on Rockville Pike

Second of two recent student pedestrian accidents

A Richard Montgomery High School student was struck by a car early Thursday while she crossed Rockville Pike in a crosswalk, according to Rockville City Police.

The 17-year-old student had some scrapes from the accident, but did not have life-threatening injuries, according to police Chief T.N. Treschuk.

Police do not know the identifity of the driver, who stopped briefly, then left.

The vehicle was leaving the Rockville Metro station and making a left turn onto Rockville Pike around 7 a.m. when it hit the student, who was walking in the direction of the school, he said.

Treschuk said the driver — a woman in her 30s with short hair — got out of the car and spoke to the student, then drove off.

The student’s cellphone was broken in the crash, so she couldn’t call anyone, Treschuk said. She got the attention of another driver, who took her to the school.

The student reported the incident to school staff and was taken to a hospital, he said.

“I would tend to think that the weather was a contributing factor,” said Treschuk, who noted that it would have been fairly dark out at the time.

“You still have to be very careful when you drive,” he said.

He said the incident is under investigation.

When these types of accidents happen, especially when a car hits a pedestrian, the parties involved should stay at the scene until police arrive to make sure everybody is OK, Treschuk said.

The incident occurred a few days after another Richard Montgomery student was struck. In that case, on Oct. 7, a car traveling west on Wootton Parkway hit the student near the intersection with Edmonston Drive.

Treschuk said the 19-year-old male student was crossing the road where there was no crosswalk.

The student was taken to a hospital, where he had been “doing fine,” Treschuk said.

He said on Friday that he didn’t know if the student was still in the hospital.

“(His injuries) looked pretty bad at the time,” Treschuk said.

The driver was not injured and stayed at the scene, he said.

Treschuk said Rockville police have worked with the high school to help educate students about pedestrian safety.

“I know they’re very concerned,” he said of the school.

A call to the school’s principal on Friday was not immediately returned.

Whether a person is crossing the road or driving, Treschuk said, it’s important to focus and be aware of one’s surroundings.